President of the Richmond History Society and distinguished historian David Blomfield died last week after a short but severe illness.

Dr Blomfield, who was the society’s chairman for ten years and former editor of its journal, spent his 82nd birthday at home surrounded by his family.

He died the next day, on Tuesday, July 12.

Dr Blomfield is the author of Kew Past, The Story of Kew, and (with the late Christopher May) Kew at War 1939-1945.

Current Richmond Local History Society chairman, Robert Smith, said: “We will miss David’s wise counsel and his encouragement to all of us in our roles.

“But we recognise how indebted we all are to David for the outstanding contribution he has made to the Society’s success and for the exemplary leadership he has demonstrated, as chairman, as president and as publisher.

“We now feel empowered to carry on with the Society’s work on a path that he has set and to develop his vision still further.”

Following a private family funeral in the morning, there will be a celebration of Dr Blomfield’s life on Tuesday, July 26 at 3pm at the Barn Church, and afterwards at Priory Park Tennis Club, TW9 3BZ. Priory Park is at the end of Forest Road, Kew.

In lieu of flowers, the family are raising money for research into early diagnosis and treatment of cancer of the oesophagus via Cancer Research UK.

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